ANIMAL-LOVERS fighting live horse export are over their first hurdle, but the next stage will finally seal the fate of Cheshire's horses bound for slaughter.

The campaign to prevent EU plans to export live British horses, ponies and donkeys to European dinner plates received backing by European Parliament in Strasbourg last month - but it's not over yet.

Live horse exports may be resumed unless the British Government fights for an opt-out to the proposals in the Council of Ministers meeting this month.

Crucial government support comes after an outcry from animal welfare groups and horse-lovers to amend the EU live animal transport directive which disregards a 67-year-old ban on the export of British horses worth under a minimum value.

After receiving 83,410 signatures from protesters across Britain, the European Parliament has finally voted on the draft Regulation on the Protection of Animals during Transport, and agreed amendments put forward by UK MEPs in consultation with the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH).

Their recommendations, if adopted by the Council of Agricultural Ministers and the European Commission, would allow the UK to prevent the export of horses for slaughter.

They would also ensure horses imported into the EU for slaughter are given a period of substantial rest at, or near the border.

Chester MEPs are fully backing the retention of the minimum values law. MEP Den Dover said: 'The will of the European Parliament is to allow us to ban the export of horses. Britain is a nation of animal lovers and more than 83,000 people have said 'no' to this trade.

'It is important for all of us to keep up the pressure on the Government so it supports a ban on the export of horses for slaughter.

'We have put down the necessary provisions to stop this terrible trade - it is now up to the British Government to obtain this opt-out.

While parliamentary backing for the amendments is a real breakthrough for campaigners, the fate of British horses still hangs by a thread.

The decision now rests in the hands of the Council of Agricultural Ministers and the European Commission, who will decide by the end of this month, whether to make the amendments - or not.

A decision to make the amendments would maintain the minimum values law, making it economically unviable to export British horses live, but a decision to go ahead with the original proposal would mean Cheshire's horses would be exported live from auctions such as Beeston Market.

Chief field officer for the ILPH in Cheshire, Paul Teasdale, said: 'Winning backing from European Parliament is brilliant news. It makes all our efforts seem worthwhile, we just hope it isn't false hope as we have had promises in the past from various ministers.'